New Copepod Host Records for Ellobiopsid Parasites from the Northwestern Arabian Gulf PDF

Keywords

copepods, parasites, oil spill

Abstract

We present new records of ellobiopsid parasites (Ellobiopsis chattoni and Thalassomyces sp.) on 18 species of copepods from the Arabian Gulf. These constitute new host records for the copepod species, as well as new geographical records of the parasites. The parasites were observed and identified during a post oil-spill zooplankton survey of the northwestern waters of the Arabian Gulf. The monthly plankton survey covered 13 stations in Kuwaiti coastal waters in the period September 1991 through February 1992. Intensity of parasitism varied both temporally and spatially during our survey. The highest incidence of parasitism was noted during October 1991. Parasite preference regarding either host size or sex was not observed. Although the occurrence of the parasites cannot be directly linked to the oil spill, their presence might be an indication of environment stress.